The predominance of alternatively activated macrophages following challenge with cell wall peptide-polysaccharide after prior infection with Sporothrix schenckii.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that is caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. This disease generally occurs within the skin and subcutaneous tissues, causing lesions that can spread through adjacent lymphatic vessels and sometimes leading to systemic diseases in immunocompromised patients. Macrophages are crucial for proper immune responses against a variety of pathogens. Furthermore, macrophages can play different roles in response to different microorganisms and forms of activation, and they can be divided into "classic" or "alternatively" activated populations, as also known as M1 and M2 macrophages. M1 cells can lead to tissue injury and contribute to pathogenesis, whereas M2 cells promote angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and repair. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of M1 and M2 macrophages in a sporotrichosis model. Toward this end, we performed phenotyping of peritoneal exudate cells and evaluated the concomitant production of several immunomediators, including IL-12, IL-10, TGF-ß, nitric oxide, and arginase-I activity, which were stimulated ex vivo with cell wall peptide-polysaccharide. Our results showed the predominance of the M2 macrophage population, indicated by peaks of arginase-I activity as well as IL-10 and TGF-ß production during the 6th and 8th weeks after infection. These results were consistent with cellular phenotyping that revealed increases in CD206-positive cells over this period. This is the first report of the participation of M2 macrophages in sporotrichosis infections.

A soy-based product fermented by Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus helveticus inhibits the development of murine breast adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Soy and its fermented products are considered functional foods. The study objective was to assess three functional food - a non-fermented soy product (NFP), fermented soy product (FSP), fermented soy product enriched with isoflavones (FI) - in terms of their ability to reduce the development of adenocarcinoma in mice, as well their ability on modulating immune system. METHODS: It was observed tumor volume and to verify correlations with the immune system it was measured levels of the cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α produced by macrophages as well as IFN-γ produced by lymphocytes using ELISA test, and nitric oxide production by macrophages using Griess reagent. RESULTS: All products showed immunological activity, but FSP showed the most effective tumor containment, resulting in smallest tumor volumes. FI animals expressed larger amounts of nitric oxide and IL-1ß and exhibited larger tumor sizes than FSP and NFP animals. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the ingestion of FSP was most efficient in tumor containment, possibly due to a positive modulation of the immune system by when Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus helveticus are added to the soy product.

Production of nitric oxide and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in ovarian cystic tumors.

Tumor sections from nonneoplastic (n = 15), benign (n = 28), and malignant ovarian tumors (n = 20) were obtained from 63 women. Immunohistochemistry of the tumor sections demonstrated that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was increased in ovarian cancer samples compared to nonneoplastic or benign tumor samples. Using the Griess method, nitric oxide (NO) metabolite levels were also found to be elevated in malignant tumor samples compared to benign tumor samples (P < .05). For stage I ovarian cancer, intracystic NO levels >80 microM were more frequent than NO levels <80 microM, and iNOS expression in well-differentiated carcinomas was greater than in moderately/poorly differentiated carcinomas (P < .05). These data suggest an important role for NO in ovarian carcinogenesis.